Today’s Top Stories
1. Delimitation: Lok Sabha Seats to Increase from 543 to 816
PM Modi assured that southern states which controlled population will not lose Lok Sabha seats in the upcoming delimitation exercise. The total seats will increase from 543 to 816. Parliament session extended to April 16-18 for passing the constitutional amendment, which also implements 33% women’s reservation in Lok Sabha and state assemblies.
2. AP Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill — Amaravati Sole Capital
Parliament passed the AP Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2026, formally establishing Amaravati as the sole statutory capital of Andhra Pradesh. The bill amends Section 5 of the AP Reorganisation Act, 2014, ending a decade-long uncertainty. YSRCP opposed the bill and staged a walkout.
3. INS Taragiri — Fourth Nilgiri-Class Stealth Frigate Commissioned
INS Taragiri, the fourth ship of the Nilgiri-class (Project 17A) stealth frigates, was commissioned on April 3, 2026 at Visakhapatnam. SAIL supplied ~4,000 tonnes of special grade steel. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also laid the foundation for the Large Cavitation Tunnel (LCT) at NSTL — a globally unique facility for simulating underwater conditions for submarine and ship design.
4. India Leads Global Nagoya Protocol Compliance
India has emerged as the global leader in issuing IRCCs (Internationally Recognised Certificates of Compliance) under the Nagoya Protocol, accounting for 56% of all certificates worldwide — 3,561 out of 6,311 globally. The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) has mobilised Rs 216.31 crore since 2017.
5. Emirates NBD to Acquire 74% Stake in RBL Bank
RBI approved UAE-based Emirates NBD to acquire up to 74% stake in RBL Bank for approximately $3 billion — the largest FDI in India’s banking sector. RBL Bank will be treated as a foreign bank subsidiary. Open offer at Rs 280 per share.
6. Japan Establishes India Economic Affairs Division
Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs established the Japan-India Economic Affairs Division on April 1, 2026 to support Japanese companies expanding into India. This supports a bilateral target of 10 trillion yen ($62.6 billion) in private sector investment by 2035, with focus on AI, startups, and critical minerals.
7. Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Act, 2026
President Murmu gave assent to the Amendment Act which removes self-perceived identity as the basis for gender recognition, replacing it with medical certification by a board and recognition by the District Magistrate. Amnesty International criticised it as a step backward, contrasting it with the NALSA v. Union of India (2014) ruling.
8. IAF Air-Dropped Canisterised Swarm (ADC-S) Drone System
The IAF initiated a project for the ADC-S under Make-II category — an air-droppable canister housing 6-8 autonomous drones with 500+ km strike range, deployable from C-17, C-130J, and C-295 aircraft. Each drone carries 30+ kg payload at 350-400 km/h cruising speed.
9. IMD Summer Forecast — Extended Heatwave Days
IMD forecast increased heatwave days across East, Central, and Northwest India for April-June 2026. Heatwave spells may extend to 9 days (vs average 3-5 days). Above-normal nighttime temperatures expected nationwide. Two western disturbances expected April 7-8.
10. DoT Extends OTT SIM-Binding Deadline to December 31, 2026
The Department of Telecommunications extended the deadline for WhatsApp, Telegram, and Signal to implement SIM-binding to December 31, 2026, following industry pushback. The original 90-day compliance window expired in February 2026.
